Hey guys, about to go get another double tourist visa in Vientine on Sunday, but just found out we need to go to the Philippines for 15 days in a few weeks. Trying to figure out if we can leave the country for 15 days on a re-entry permit. Question would be should we get a re-entry permit, or get the double tourist visas after the 15 days in the Philippines? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

You can get a single entry re-entry permit (1000 baht) to keep the remainder of your 60 day entry valid when you re-enter the country.

Getting a re-entry permit would be best. You could still get the 30 day extension and then use the 2nd entry of your visa.

Edit: If you delayed getting the 2 entry tourist visa how would you remain in the country until your trip to the Philippines?

I am trying to figure out what you are trying to ask. A re-entry permit is specifically designed for the situation you describe: leaving the country for some period and returning with the original permission to stay date intact. Whether this is worthwhile depends on how much time is left until expiry of the original permission to stay. The type of visa is pretty much irrelevant.

You get the double entry tourist visa that will give you a 60 day permission to stay when you enter from Laos and you get a re-entry permit before leaving for the Philippines so that when you return to Thailand from the Philippines your 60 day permission to stay remains valid. You can then apply for a 30 day extension of stay before the 60 days is up & before you need to exit/enter the country to start your second 60 + 30 day entry on the tourist visa.

When you return from the Philippines, make sure you enter your re-entry permit number on the arrival card NOT the number from your tourist visa ... and even then make sure the immigration officers sees the re-entry permit or else s/he might use the second entry on your tourist visa.

Also make sure you do your exit & return for the 2nd use of the tourist visa before the "use by" date on the visa sticker.

Edited July 28, 201510 yr by Suradit69